Who Are You Off to Meet?

The point where you really feel the sun stinging.

When the clothes you're wearing start feeling thin and the sun forces short sleeves on you, Orion Academy's vacation ceremony arrives.

After gathering in the auditorium that morning for a brief ceremony, Class 1 regrouped in the classroom to wrap things up.

While waiting for Juyeon, Rohan chatted idly with his two friends, Gilbert Carniat and Dick Wikitree.

"Rohan, whatever happened with getting your driver's license like you mentioned last time?"

"Yeah. Thanks to you, it was a breeze. Everything in the summary video you sent came straight from the test."

"Good stuff. Everyone who knows does it that way."

Rohan had already gotten his driver's license as planned.

Watching the key points video Dick sent let him master this world's traffic laws in one go.

It was mostly stuff he already knew, just slightly different, so focusing on those changes made the written test easy. The driving test was a no-brainer.

"Rohaaaaan──!!! No plans to visit the Sepia Archipelago over break?"

"Nothing set yet. Might not have the time for it."

Rohan casually pushed away Gilbert's intruding face with familiarity.

"Oh ho, what a pity that is."

"What kind of speech is that?"

"Then how about grabbing a bite today? My girlfriend's into swords too, and she's been curious about you. Seems like you've got quite the reputation in other classes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠since the practical exam."

"Hmm···."

"Truth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be told, I want to introduce my girlfriend to you, Rohan! We've pledged our futures together, after all! She's as good as my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wife!"

Come to think of it, this guy Gilbert had a girlfriend.

That's why he always slips out during breaks. With all his incomprehensible antics, I keep forgetting she exists.

Maybe because I haven't actually seen her during this time.

"You coming too, Dick?"

"Nah, can't. Got a train booked, gotta bolt right after. If you hit Sepia, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Rohan, I never planned on inviting that guy from the start. He clams up around girls, can't even string a sentence together."

"Wasn't planning on going anyway. Piss off."

Ignoring the two as they predictably bickered again, Rohan glanced around.

Ichinose and Noah's seats were empty.

'Bathroom break?'

Though today marked the start of break with some free time, unusually for Rohan, his schedule was completely clear.

Sion and Clara, who usually stuck to him like glue, were off meeting Ichinose and Noah to check out swimsuits, so there was no reason to turn down Gilbert's invite.

'I can head back if they message.'

Rohan sent a quick note to Sion and Clara's group chat saying he'd be grabbing dinner with friends.

Then he accepted Gilbert's proposal.

After a bit more chit-chat, Noah somersaulted back through the rear door.

Ichinose followed at a calm pace and took her seat.

Juyeon entered through the front.

"Attention."

Standing at the podium, Juyeon scanned the faces of Class 1 one by one.

She drew a soft smile.

"I said everything that needed saying in the auditorium, so I won't drag this out. You all worked hard following your instructors this semester. Manage your condition over break and stay safe—no injuries. Understood?"

""""Yes!!!""""

The cadets bellowed back with laughter mixed in, and Juyeon nodded in satisfaction.

"As I say every time, if trouble arises, don't hide it—come to your instructor. Dismissed."

As Juyeon stepped away from the podium, the cadets surged to their feet and mobbed her on her way out, showering thanks.

Summer break had begun.

Gilbert asked for a bit of time, so Rohan headed back to the dormitory, changed clothes, and geared up.

As he left the dorm, he pulled out his phone.

A smile crept onto his face at the message.

Clara seemed much less tense around Noah now.

'If those four are tight enough to hang out like this, hope it stays that way.'

They all had sharp wits and good personalities, so it should be fine.

Just regrettable he couldn't watch today's heartwarming scene up close.

But as the sole guy in the group, he'd endure.

Wait expectantly for the swimsuits against a beach backdrop, then reward with a killer reaction. Best approach.

'Guess I'll just grab mine off the net.'

While scrolling men's swimsuits at a crosswalk waiting for green,

A notification popped up before his eyes.

"Oh?"

Something he'd half-forgotten about since not knowing the timer.

The shop, missing its one-time item, had finally refreshed.

Crossing on the changed signal, he opened the Shop skill.

'Skill level-up got pricier.'

Limited items had steadily climbed, finally hitting 50,000P. When would he scrape that together?

Amid the utter hopelessness, the time-limited special caught his eye.

'That's the one.'

No surprise. He knew instantly.

It tied to the second Transcendence.

[Shop skill occasionally features special items]

"Hmm."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Rohan knew what the Feather Fall Amulet was. A consumable nullifying fall damage once, no matter the height.

In Abyss City, they'd pile up from casual play, disposable enough to shrug off. But reality differed.

He wanted it.

Yet the price strained his current points.

'Special's one thing, but skill level-up needs quests to aim for.'

Scraping from minor feats and roadside low-tier monsters like Geloi? No dice.

The main story quest reward dangled tantalizingly—who knew when it'd unlock.

Maybe dive into monster-overrun zones as a hunter for points.

He knew a few spots.

Lost in such heavy thought,

Rohan snapped to.

'No. Gotta hold off on risky stuff.'

Charging monster turf at his level? Blind power-chasing suicide; no rebuttal to the criticism.

To boldly defy Ichinose Jun's advice and hold his head high, his current strength was sorely lacking.

'Shortcuts can kill. One life— no rushing, focus on training··· skills are just aids···.'

With thoughts straightened, after about 10 minutes,

The composite Shopping Mall Gilbert designated came into view.

Ichinose Yui, Noah Frozenheart, Sion Testarosa, Clara.

These four had grown close over time.

They'd even promised recently to drop formal speech for casual among themselves.

Noah teased that she knew Sion and Clara's feelings for Rohan, leading to deep girl-talk.

Thus, today's swimsuit shopping was crucial and candid.

"To rile Rohan up, something like this, right? Sexy!"

Noah thrust forward a daring swimsuit whose fabric was smaller than a palm, shoving it at the group.

Ichinose said nothing, heading toward Sion to browse others. Clara shook her head furiously, face red.

"O-Oppa says whatever suits me best···."

"Whyy~ But this'd look great on Clara?"

"Aghhh···."

"Noah. Don't tease Clara. She's embarrassed."

"Tch!"

Noah hung the swimsuit back and wandered.

More thrilled by their picks than her own.

"Baby Yui going for that? Covers everything."

"What's wrong with it···."

Ichinose pouted, clutching the rash guard.

She knew it was passive, wasn't thrilled.

Still, exposure embarrassed her. Still conflicted.

Sion eyed only bold ones with utmost seriousness, spurring her on.

Thus,

Despite time passing, no one but Noah had decided.

As Noah tried on dive goggles, pondering water gear,

She perked her tail at a glimpse outside.

Heading to the entrance, Noah narrowed her eyes and spoke.

"Isn't that Rohan?"

The girls shopping swimsuits turned, swarming the entrance.

Amid the crowd. Rohan ascending the escalator, clear as day.

Staring at his phone.

"O-Oppa said dinner with friends today···."

"Clara. Do you know that friend's name?"

"No··· Didn't, ask that far···."

"Looks like he's heading to meet now, but Rohan's friend? Gilbert Carniat or Dick Wikitree?"

That felt off.

Rohan usually hit cheap, hearty spots with guy friends.

Men's fave eateries were elsewhere.

"Keeps going up."

"What's up top?"

Noah answered Ichinose and Sion's exchange.

"Men's clothes upstairs. Top's the theater? Below that, restaurants and cafes."

""""···.""""

At Noah's words, the girls exchanged glances.

All faces gravely serious.